James s



' (No Model.)

J. S. DONNELLAN.

SKIPPING ROPE.

N0. 554,992. Patgnted Feb. 18, 1896.

ANDREW BLRAHAM. mmummwuummknc Nrrn STATES- A'rnNr Fries.

JAMES S. DONNELLAN, OF DUBUQUE, IOVA, ASSIGNOR OF 'lWVO-THIRDS TO OTTO B. RIDGEYVAY AND GEORGE V. SHAW, OF SAME PLACE.

SKl PPlNG-ROPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,992, dated. February 18, 1896.

' Application filed December 29, 1894. Serial No. 533,345. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. DONNELLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Skipping-Rope, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a skipping rope or chain which may be held rigidly at its ends and which will be allowed free movement between its ends, notwithstanding the comparatively stationary position of the end portions, thereby obviating the tendency to tangle and twist which is present in every skipping-rope of prior production.

Tothis end the invention consists in a peculiarly-constructed swivel-joint, adapted to be attached one to each end of the rope or chain, and to permit the rope or chain to turn freely on the handpiece, or vice versa.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a skippingchain having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the joint or handpiece at the end of the rope or chain. Fig. 8is a cross-section taken through such handpiece. Fig. 4 is a view of .my improvement applied to a rope.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the chain, which may be of any construction, and which is provided, at equidistant points throughout its length, with links or rings 2, which serve to join the otherwise disconnected sections of the chain and which have for their primary purpose to secure the bells 3 in place. The bells 3 may be of any preferred construction and are provided to give the rope or chain a musical sound during its operation, and their number may be increased or diminished to suit the fancies of the user. Secured to each end of the chain 1, by passing it through the end link, is the triangular swivel-section or loop 4, which is formed of an integral piece of wire bent to form an angle 5, adapted to receive the said end links of the chain, and having its ends bent outwardly and thence inwardly and terminating in the eyes 6. The eyes 6 are longitudinally aligned with the chain and are adapted for the reception of the spindle 7 of the handpiece 8. The handpiece is also formed of an integral piece of metal, and is bent to assume a substantially oblong or round form, one of its ends being provided with an eye 9, adapted to embrace the wire adjacent to the remaining end, which is passed through the eye 9 and extended to form the spindle 7, and the latter is passed through the eyes of the swivel and pivotally connected to the same. From this eye 9 the remaining end of the wire bends at right angles to the general outline of the handpiece and has formed thereon the eye 10, which operates as an enlargement or head and to prevent the handpiece 8 from disengagement with the eyes 6 of the swivel-section. Thus it will be seen that the spindle 7 is revolubly mounted in the eyes 6 of the swivel-section 4 and that it is held therein by means of the head or enlargement 10. The handpiece 8 is made of a size which will permit it to receive the hand of a person,so that it maybe grasped and held firmly during the use of the rope or chain.

In the use of my invention the operator should grasp the handpieces 8, one in each hand, and swing the rope or chain,"as is usual and as is well understood. As the rope or chain swings,the swivel-sections 4 willturn on the spindles '7, thereby allowing the rope or chain free and easy movement and making it unnecessary for the operator to allow the rope or chain to turn in his hands, as is necessary in other devices of this class. During the swinging of the rope or chain the bells 3 will operate to produce a musical sound, which will be very amusing and pleasant.

The modification of Fig. 4 is, in substance, the same as the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and consists of a handpiece 8 having spindle 7 operating with swivel-section 4, the only departure from the first form being in the manner of securing the section 4 to the rope ends. Here, instead of passing the swivel-section through the end links, the wire or twine binding 11 is provided and this is wrapped around the end of the rope and formed with the eye 12 thereon, which eye is adapted to receive the swivel-section 4 and to effect a connection therewith. The necessity for this departure from the first-described form of my invention will be apparent, since there will be no links with which the section 4 may operate when used with a rope. The rope of Fig 4 is also provided with bells, which are secured thereto by rings or links 12, passing through the strands of the rope and through the securingeyes of the bells.

Since the use and operation of the device of Fig. 4 do not differ from that of the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will not be necessary for me to explain this point again.

Having described the invention, I claim- A handle attachment for skipping ropes and chains, comprising a swivel constructed of a single piece of metal bent to form a triangular loop and terminating at the base thereof in registering eyes and an oblon ghandle constructed of a single piece of metal and provided at one terminal with an eye, and

having its other terminal extended through. 

